Dr. Yung’s laboratory is conducting an innovative monitoring project for Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, using environmental DNA (eDNA) technology to track over 21,000 juvenile fish released at Yan Chau Tong Marine Park this September. On October 9th, the team carried out water sampling as part of several planned follow-up visits to detect genetic material naturally shed by the restocked fish—including Hong Kong grouper, star snapper, black seabream, and red seabream. This non-invasive approach offers a revolutionary alternative to traditional underwater surveys, requiring only water samples that can be analyzed in the lab. By tracking how the genetic signature changes over time through multiple sampling events, Yung’s lab is helping prove whether eDNA can effectively monitor restocking success.
